Chapter Text
"I’m bored."
Sam flopped down onto Sebastian’s old sofa, the leather already cracked in a few spots from many years of use, stretching his tired legs out. His evening shift at Joja Mart had been especially taxing – as was to be expected on a Saturday – and he wanted nothing more than to play some video games with Sebastian to end the day.
The other boy was sitting at his desk, gaze fixed on the computer screen. Sam could make out dark circles under his eyes, a product of hours upon hours of programming without taking the proper time to sleep. He sighed. Typical Sebastian.
"I just need to finish this. Won’t take long"
Sebastian didn’t look up. He kept typing on his keyboard, fingers flying in sheer inhuman speed over the letters. If Sam wasn't so worried about his physical state, he’d admire the skill.
"Take a break, Seb. I brought pizza."
His friend groaned. "Again?"
Sam shrugged. It wasn't like they had that many food options in this shitty town.
"Did you eat anything today?"
Sebastian clicked with his mouse a few times, and then he finally moved, joints cracking when he stretched. The hem of his hoodie – an old one, that Sebastian had almost grown out of – rode up slightly, revealing a sliver of skin that Sam’s eyes were immediately drawn too.
Sebastian gave him a deadpan look.
"What, are you my mom now?"
The blonde managed to tear his gaze away, deciding to roll his eyes instead and pushed one of the boxes with the tip of his shoe to Sebastian, who started devouring his pizza like he hadn’t insulted it just two seconds ago.
"I’m still bored", Sam stated after the food was gone. Sebastian had joined him on the couch, empty boxes abandoned on the floor next to them. He stood up, grabbing a pack of cigarettes from his table and nodding towards the door. Sam followed, familiar enough with Sebastian’s habits to have seen this coming.
It was cold outside. They were standing at the river near the house, and Sam was freezing because he’d left his jacket inside. Sebastian didn’t seem to be bothered by the chilly air, one hand buried in his jeans pocket and the other holding a lit-up cigarette.
He inhaled, eyes closed, letting out a puff of smoke through his lips and Sam wondered how someone could look so fucking hot while doing something as simple as smoking. He guessed it just added to Sebastian’s charm, all dark and broody, and God, Sam had really fallen for the emo boy, hadn't he?
He’d come to terms with his attraction to his best friend of all people a few months ago – which felt more like ages at this point – but it still hadn’t gotten easier. Every time they hung out together, Sam was busy analysing the way he moved, talked, even breathed, as if he didn’t know him inside out already from their many years of friendship.
"Do I have something on my face?"
Sebastian looked at him, and Sam felt caught like a deer in the headlights.
"Nope", he scrambled for an excuse, "just wondering how it tastes like."
He nodded to the cigarette, which was the only thing he meant of course.
Sebastian huffed out a laugh, shaking his head.
"I don’t think you’d like it."
Holding out his cigarette, he waited for Sam to take it. The blonde grabbed it, trying to ignore the way Sebastian’s fingers brushed against his own. Shit. Now he’d actually have to try it.
He coughed, the smoke leaving an unpleasant burn in his throat, and he could hear Sebastian laugh at him.
"See? Told you."
Sam shoved his shoulder lightly. He would leave the smoking to Sebastian, content with watching him anyway.
"Do you have a Christmas present for Abi?"
Band practice was over – as far as you could call two people playing a guitar and a keyboard in Sam’s stuffy room a band – and Sam was carefully putting away his instrument. Sebastian sat at the keyboard, typing something on his phone.
"Seb?"
He looked up. "Yeah. You don’t?"
Sam shook his head, sitting down on the edge of his bed.
"I don’t know what to get her."
The other snorted. “It’s not that difficult. She likes plenty of stuff. I’m sure you’ll find something.”
He looked up from his phone, raising an eyebrow.
"Do you have something for me yet?"
"Nope”, Sam popped the 'p', “and you?"
Sebastian shook his head, and Sam found himself fixed by his dark eyes, only realizing he’d been staring too long when Sebastian looked down to type something into his phone again.
"Ouch. You have something for Abi, but not for me, your best friend?"
He feigned hurt to cover up his embarrassment, dropping down onto his favorite comic-patterned sheets with a dramatic sigh. Sebastian chuckled, voice deep, and shit, Sam wanted to hear it again.
An idea crossed his mind, something to hopefully distract him from starting to think inappropriate things about his best friend.
"Let’s make this a challenge", he proposed, standing up and grabbing two cans of Joja Cola from his mini fridge. He threw one at Sebastian who caught it with ease.
"A challenge?"
He didn’t sound very thrilled by the idea. Sam didn’t care. Sebastian was never excited about things that didn’t involve video games or playing pool in the saloon.
"The one who gives the better present wins uh…", he thought of a proper prize, "a free evening at the saloon from the other."
That finally got Sebastian’s attention, head quirking up. His long fingers – black nail polish already chipping away at the edges of his nails – opened the blue can and he took a swig out of it. He smirked, and that smirk did awful things to Sam’s stomach.
"Deal."
Sam had decided to make this an early Christmas present, because it wasn’t just something he could push into Sebastian’s hand with an expectant look and watch him while he opened it – no, it was going to be an experience, a whole evening of just the two of them having fun.
Well, hopefully Sebastian would be having fun. Sam would be pretty bummed if he didn’t, because this was the perfect present, he was sure of it. He'd totally win their challenge and get a free evening in the saloon.
Sebastian opened the door of Sam’s old pickup – the one he’d gotten for his eighteenth’s birthday two years ago – and dropped down into the seat beside him. He wore his usual black ripped jeans, a dark purple hoodie and a leather jacket, and all in all it looked very cool, but if Sam was in his place, he’d be freezing.
With lined boots, a thick jeans jacket and his beanie on top of that, Sam was left wondering how the other managed to pull that outfit off. He shouldn’t complain though – he liked it, and it gave him all the more reason to sneak glances at Sebastian from time to time.
They drove in comfortable silence for the first half hour – the quiet rock music coming from the stereo system and a few comments from Sebastian interrupting the tranquillity here and there. His voice came out low and a little raspy, and Sam wished he would keep talking forever.
After they passed a familiar sign Sebastian started shifting in his seat.
"Wait… are we going to the city?"
Sam couldn’t suppress his grin at those words.
"Maybe", was all he answered, unable to hide the excitement in his voice. He could feel Sebastian’s eyes boring into him from his side, but he kept his gaze on the road – even though there was almost no traffic at this late hour.
"I’m impressed", Sebastian noted after slamming the door shut, the sound echoing loudly through the night. Sam locked his car, tucking the key away safely into his jeans pocket. They stood in a small parking lot, one where Sam didn’t have to pay a fee for after 10pm. It wouldn’t have been much anyway, but he cared to safe his money for later.
Sam shot him a grin. Sebastian pulled out a lighter and a cigarette, and they started heading toward the exit and into the city.
Zuzu City was so very different from Pelican Town. It was bright and bold, vibrant and lively even at night, and everything Sam wanted his life to be like. Of course he loved his family, his childhood room and the memories attached to every nook and cranny of the small town, but he dreamed of living here one day. Preferably with Sebastian. He wouldn’t leave him behind.
Neon signs were lighting up even the darkest corners, people strolling through the streets – some of them already drunk – and it smelled of gasoline, food and salt from the ocean not too far away. Sam stole a glance at Sebastian, who looked livelier than he had in a long time, eyes lighting up at the prospect of spending the next few hours here.
His heart ached with something good, but also with compassion. After this night, Sebastian would have go back to his ungrateful job, to his room in the basement, to a family that didn’t support his dreams and wishes. It only made Sam more determined to make this the best experience of Sebastian’s life.
"Where are we going?"
If his ears weren’t playing any tricks on him, he’d think that his friend sounded almost excited, which felt like a win already.
"It’s a surprise", he simply answered.
Sebastian only hummed, seeming content with following him along to their destination.
Sam had loved the arcade since he’d first stepped a foot into the hall more than ten years ago. He hadn’t been here often – two or three times maybe – but a familiar feeling washed over him the moment they entered the big room, nostalgia bringing out memories of afternoons with his family and childhood birthdays. Sam had never been here with Sebastian before, which was a shame, really.
But that was about to change.
"Dude, you really went all out, huh?"
Sebastian looked even happier than before, and the sight made Sam feel proud. It could be called a skill to get the other out of his shell, and over the years he’d become a pro at mastering that skill. He just couldn’t fuck it up with these weird feelings now.
They spent hours at the arcade, trying out game after game, together and alone, lost in their own bubble and forgetting about all of the depressing stuff that came with their everyday life. Sam even convinced Sebastian to play a few rounds on the dance pad, doubling over with laughter at how awkward he moved at first. But he got better as the songs went on, and Sam was left staring, laughter dying out in his throat.
After Sebastian got off the platform, he ran a hand through his disheveled black hair, cheeks flushed red from exhaustion, and the flickering lights dancing on his skin, bright pinks, soft purples and calm blues.
Sam’s stomach fluttered when Sebastian’s eyes met his, and the world around them seemed to stop for a moment, noise fading into the background as the seconds stretched on. His best friend kept looking at him, eyes crinkling at the corners and lips pulled up into a real, genuine smile. Sam’s legs weakened under his gaze and almost gave out when Sebastian reached for his hand and pulled him to the exit, doors sliding closed behind them.
The air was cold, and combined with the other letting go of his hand, Sam was able to breathe again, mind finally clearing up. Oh god he was so embarrassing. It had to be impossible for Sebastian to not see it in his eyes, the crazy amount of affection he felt for the boy.
The smell of smoke reached his nose, and when he turned his head, he found Sebastian had lit up another cigarette – hopefully more out of habit than out of stress. They were heading to the ocean, walking quietly side by side with their shoulders brushing from time to time. Their footsteps on the pavement were the only sound to be heard, and when Sam looked at his phone, the clock showed 2 am.
"Thanks for bringing me here", Sebastian broke the silence, taking a slow drag. Sam watched the movement of his lips.
"I don’t think you can beat that", he joked, shoving Sebastian lightly with his elbow, who chuckled.
"Nah, I’ll make sure to win that free evening."
He smirked at Sam.
"Sure." Sam had meant to sound sarcastic, but his voice was giving out halfway.
He really needed to get a grip on himself if he wanted this friendship to survive, dammit.
The ocean was quiet, waves lapping softly against the shore. Luckily, they’d eaten something at the arcade earlier, otherwise Sam would be starving right now. The stars were a bit brighter here in the outskirts of the city, and they were sitting on a stone wall that overlooked the water.
"You still want to live here someday?"
Sebastian sounded lost in thought, eyes gazing out at the dark horizon. The line between sky and water was blurring together, making everything look like a giant mass of dark ink. The scent of salt and the smoke clinging to Sebastian's clothes filled Sam’s senses. He took a sip from the Joja Cola he’d bought at a vending machine earlier.
"Yep. It’s just a matter of time, I think."
He could see Sebastian’s head turning out of the corner of his eye, but he didn’t dare to do the same because he was sure, looking away would be impossible.
"Good. Promise you’ll wait for me."
His voice was barely audible over the sound of the waves. Sam betrayed himself. He moved and met Sebastian’s eyes.
"I promise."
His friend smiled, just a slight pull of his lips that one could easily miss, but Sam recognized it even in the dark.
"We should probably go. It’s like", he checked his phone, "past 3 already."
Sebastian didn’t move right away, mirroring Sam’s own reluctance despite his words.
"We should do this again sometime", Sam proposed, getting up and brushing the dirt off his jeans. Without Sebastian sitting directly next to him, he noticed how cold it actually was, the chilly air creeping through his clothes and biting into his skin.
“It's a date”, Sebastian stated with a smirk. Sam’s brain short-circuited – he blamed it on his tiredness.
A hand pressed into Sam’s back to usher him forward.
"Let’s go, or you’ll fall asleep mid-driving."
Sam would definitely not be falling asleep mid-driving – not with Sebastian right next to him and the endless number of moments between them he’d gathered this night to mull over and over in his brain until he was probably going crazy. Those little glances and touches that left him wondering if Sebastian had noticed them too.
But at least Sam could be sure of one thing – he was totally going to win their challenge.